Mark “Stomach of Iron” Begich Speaks.

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Mark Begich made a radio appearance on the Ed Schultz show today. He sounded pretty confident, but not cocky. He’s been through this before. When he was elected Mayor of Anchorage, he won by 18 votes. So his current lead of 814 seems like a landslide! His strong showing in districts with military bases, and out in rural Alaska speak volumes, coming from areas that have traditionally gone to Stevens.

He also discussed Sarah Palin’s potential plans for the future, including either throwing her hat in the ring if Stevens wins and is booted out by the Senate, running in 2010 for the Senate seat currently held by Lisa Murkowski, or running for President in 2012. He also used the word “debacle” when describing the McCain-Palin campaign, which made me smile.

Begich picked up on Palin’s recent quote, “I am not one to appoint myself or a member of my family to take the place of any [Senate] vacancy.” As you all know by now, she couldn’t do that anyway because it’s illegal…but it was a pretty obvious jab at Senator Lisa Murkowski, who was appointed to that position by her father Frank Murkowski when he left his Senate seat to become Governor of the state. He’s the one Palin trounced in the primary when she ran for the position. She may have Murkowski #2 in her cross hairs.

Begich also mentioned that his need to keep his operation going an extra week or two, means he is still welcome donations to the campaign. So, if you want to help him keep the staff he needs to make sure that this counting process goes smoothly, and keep everyone running full steam until the vote is finalized, you can throw him a little love at www.begich.com

Donated! Thanks for the info AK. Looking forward to him on RM show and at his victory speech!! hehehe

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C.Rock(13:58:18) :

Yes Mark Begich will win.
OT: FYI…………Bill Ayers on Good Morning America Tomarrow. I hope he says something about SP to shut her up once and for all.

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Goalie in NM(13:59:01) :

nocalgal (13:54:42) :
BTW someone on Andrew Sullivan’s blog referred to the nonsense that comes out of SP as “Pageant speak”. I think that is spot on!!
***********************************
That’s a good one – I have always refered to it as Parseltongue…whatever it is, it’s like no other language I have ever heard.

Alaska-based GOP pollster David Dittman, who worked for Sen. Ted Stevens during this year’s primary race, believes Democratic challenger Mark Begich is all but certain to expand his current razor-thin lead and snatch the seat.

“I don’t think Stevens can come back,” Dittman said, noting that he thinks the remaining trove of uncounted ballots will help Begich “increase his lead.”

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SoCal Bob(14:22:31) :

If Begich wins he’ll bury Sarah’s hopes of national political office. She needs to get into the Senate ASAP and keep her name in the spotlight. Keeping her out for another 2 years will kill her momentum.

Bill Ayers did a small interview for a reporter I think last week, he said he hardly even knew Obama and that the McCain/Palin campaign made a caricature out of him.
He said he never said he wanted to bomb more, he said he wished he had done more for America to stop the Viet Nam war.
Heck I protested the Viet Nam war and was there when those 4 students were killed at Kent State Ohio…I was there the night before on Water street where there was fires and bars burned…rumors were the weathermen were around….never saw anything but National Guards.

Bev, one of the Kent State kids killed graduated from my HS a few years before I did.. It was a very terrible time for a lot of people. McLost knew what was going on then and how angry people were. What the WU did back then was just a result of such a divisive time in our history.

Ayers rehabbed himself, his reputation and his integrity. All it took was a buffoon from Alaska 2 months to mess up the last 20 years of good Ayers has done.

Those were people so many millions voted for. While it’s wonderful and a relief Obama won, it’s still sad to see so many millions of people not be able to see beyond their hate.

Does anyone have a link to the full RGA Conference SP speech? All that I can find is the (laughable) press conference.

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drchill(14:38:50) :

Well the elections were not a democratic landslide, but most of the important elections seem to have gone well.
I’m hopeful…

I feel like we’re ready for the 21st century now, and that the last 8 years was some dreadful false start, a detour in from the time line into some bisarro world of Neocons…

Back on track…

AKM – I hope Barack drops you a line to thank you.

And if he won’t I will.

Great job. Great citizen. A great example. Very admirable. You’ve made a difference, and inspired thousands, just by being who you are…
Thank you.

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mvngfwd(14:39:12) :

Yeah! They are reporting that a few (okay, alot) of the GOP govs are really PO’d about today’s press conference. Could someone loan her a steam shovel because she is doing a great job digging herself a big hole and I think we should help her anyway we can. This one seems to be available and it is local too… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_shovel 😉

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Lana, KY(14:40:17) :

It would be Great if Begich wins ! Great for Alaska and one more BIG nail holding that door shut on Palin.

I think mommie sarah dearest has become something like fish & in-laws that hang around too long. It is definitely time to throw ’em out.

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mvngfwd(14:42:33) :

okay…my last post spammed. What causes that?

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Sparky(14:42:36) :

@Cassie Jeep Pike Palin (Wish I were Trout) (14:16:41) :
Sparky
—————————–
Rachel is on at 9:00 EST. Not sure about other places, though.

Thanks, Cassie! I’m in California, so will adjust for time. I’m really looking forward to seeing and hearing Mark.
_________________________________________________
Bev, C.Rock, Marty :
Bill Ayers on Good Morning America Tomorrow. I hope he says something about SP to shut her up once and for all.

Ayers is very bright…I hope he is very clear and articulate about not knowing Obama. That should shut a door on Palin. Curious what her reaction will be?

I’m pretty sure it’s Gods will that Begich ends up with the key to that door.. now she has to find something to knock the door down. Could be time for her to call the Three Pigs with Lipstick and huff and puff.. But Begich built outta strong building materials. They can’t blow that door down.

@Marty
“First she refused to open her mouth, then she refused to shut it”
—————————————————
I enjoyed that!
Yep, she will have destroyed any chance she had by the end of the week. She can’t shut up and it is wearing a bit thin now. I used to look at her interviews for a bit of sport – now she is getting boring.

“Bill Ayers on Good Morning America Tomarrow. I hope he says something about SP to shut her up once and for all.”
———–
Unfortunately, I am never awake early enough to catch that show.
Would dearly LOVE for Ayers to tell her STFU.

I just emailed that priest. I kept it respectful, but reminded him that the Catholic church had recently released something urging Catholics to find balance and NOT vote on a single issue. Very satisfying. Ahhhhh.

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GJ in ID(14:57:08) :

I keep checking in to see if Begich has won, as my blue candle is getting a little short. I’ll just have to go get another one if the votes are not going to be counted until next week. Things sure move slow when you’re having fun.

This is my day to play in the yard, racking leaves. Even though the wind has been blowing them around as fast as I rack them up. My dog, Sky loves to hid his tennis ball in the pile then root around looking for it, I’ve been laughing all aftern noon. Who cares if the leaves get picked up? The truck will not be back until next Tuesday, so I have plenty of time, just about when the last Ak vote come in, so will the leaf fall.

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Mollys Mum(14:57:35) :

@SMG – MN (14:38:42) :

MSNBC has the whole speech on their website.
I nearly fell asleep watching it.

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Sparky(15:00:15) :

We had a Bishop refuse then Governor Gray Davis communion because Mr. Davis (a Dem) supported women’s rights. The sadder part was that the Bishop had the whole thing picked up in the Sacramento Bee NP.

Scroll down a bit and you’ll see NeoCon Invasion – my personal favorite. TRUST me when I tell you it’s worth it to get to level two ….. it’s especially fun for endangered progressive Alaskans.

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Sparky(15:05:16) :

Thanks Marty, will do.

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antsy(15:08:19) :

Back in the 70s my sister-in-law couldn’t take communion because she admitted to using birth control. I don’t know either — real life and religion.

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NY Dem(15:08:22) :

Good one Sparky ! Rachel makes me wish I was a member of the opposite sex !

Wonder if she’ll go to wearing her traditional mens-style shirts under her blazer as the weather turns colder ?

Way back when, when she was just an extra panelist on the Tucker Carlson show, she usually wore just a mans shirt (sans tie) and slacks. If you were tuning in for the first time, it was hard to differentiate immediately whether she was male or female.

Someone should tell them that Obama is not pro-abortion, he is pro-choice, and that exercising your right to vote is not a sin.

AND I hope they lose their tax-exempt status.

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halcrow(15:08:47) :

Dang it, this offer must be looking more and more tempting by the minute (mental message to Cezar Capone: offer the First Dude two snow machines; that’ll clinch the deal and have Sarah out of those RNC duds in a NY minute).

Porn director says he has “wiggle room” in $3 million offer to Sarah Palin
Chris Parry, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, November 13, 2008
Flordia-based Bill Fisher, AKA pornography director Cezar Capone, says he might be prepared to increase the $3 million offer he made to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin to appear in one of his films.

Fisher contacted The Sun Thursday to announce he was increasing his initial offer of $2 million to Sarah Palin plus $100,000 and a free snow mobile for her husband Todd, to $3 million and a lifetime supply of Alaskan king crab.

When asked about how high he was prepared to go to secure the Alaskan governor’s acting services, Fisher suggested that $3 million was close to his limit, but that he might be able to “find a little wiggle room.”…

I just emailed that priest. I kept it respectful, but reminded him that the Catholic church had recently released something urging Catholics to find balance and NOT vote on a single issue. Very satisfying. Ahhhhh.

The Award should be for how to commit political suicide within a religious organization.

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BigPete(15:11:59) :

Palin’s career is alive and well as long as she has her bible belt base-they couldn’t care less about all the stupid things she says. If she is going to ruin anything, it is the Republican party, which is now split between Palin, and the old school types on the cruise ship with Romney.

If we were in the 1950’s, it would be reasonable to wonder if the introduction of Palin into the national discourse, were a fiendishly devious plot by the CIA to destabilize the Republican party, plunging it into a debilitating civil war.

NY Dem (15:08:22) You have remarkable taste, that’s a fact…I believe a lot of Rachael’s beauty/attractiveness comes from within. She knows who she is. Intelligence is quite attractive. Shows in her eyes and smile.

oops, now I need a cold pail of water🙂

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Democrat G (formerly G)(15:17:39) :

ALASKA! When Begich is declared the winner, YOU MUST stay on top of everything and send PALIN back into the woods! She deserves jail for HOUSEGATE and MORE!

It is God’s will everyone! She made a deal with the witch doctor who made a deal with the devil and now she is feeling God’s wrath! But it is up to US and all Alaskans to fulfill the prophecy!

Okay, the above is SP talk, but against her……seriously, send the bitch to jail! DO YOUR PART ALASKA, YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

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Aussie Blue Sky(15:22:42) :

Rachel Maddow is gorgeous and she’s brainy – but we love her because she’s also a clown.😉

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ocliberal(15:25:57) :

Oh but Sista Sarah is in fine form today. I think we all have to admit that life will be very boring once she is gone. It’s almost worth having her around just to just watch the looks of sheer terror on the faces of the other Republican governors as they realize they are helpless against her strange seductive Palinpower.

We have been mocking her, but I’m beginning to believe her incoherent Palinese actually contains some pretty strong seductive components that apparently render all who hear her to become completely stupefied. This is why no reporter or interviewer has been able to ask her a sensible follow-up question or even respond with a simple, “WTF did you just say Governor?”

The following is from an absolutely hilarious Daily Kos diary entitled: “Playing the Sarah Palin Word Game” This diarist has discovered that by filling in the blanks left by Palin’s speech everything makes perfect sense…

An example: (Answering a Greta’s question)

PALIN: He just looking right in my eyes and saying, Are you ready for this? Would you like to do this? And I said, I would be honored to run with you. Absolutely. And I thanked him for taking the chance on me also.

I mean, just talk about — that was the epitome of being the maverick, somebody bold, somebody thinking outside of the box, not going with, no doubt, what a lot of the — more of the conventional wisdom would have dictated, you know, go get somebody who’s already on the national scene and perhaps it would be a safer type of pick.

Here is what she meant by filling in the blanks… (bolded words added)
PALIN: He was just looking right in my eyes and saying, Are you ready for this? Because nobody is going to believe this pick. Would you like to do this? And I said, I would be honored to run with you. Absolutely. And I thanked him for taking the chance on a completely inexperienced and unready person like me also.

I mean, just talk about balls! That was the epitome of being the maverick, somebody bold, somebody thinking outside of the box, not going with, no doubt, what common sense or what a lot of the experts and — more of the conventional wisdom would have dictated. A cooler, more rational person would, you know, go andget somebody who’s already on the national scene and perhaps it would be a safer and more presidential type of pick.

We had a Bishop refuse then Governor Gray Davis communion because Mr. Davis (a Dem) supported women’s rights. The sadder part was that the Bishop had the whole thing picked up in the Sacramento Bee NP.

I don’t know…politics and religion.
********************
My biggest gripe about these types that profess to know what’s best for all of us is that they are so dern judgmental. Really, how dare anyone know what is in my best interest but me. AND….how does anyone have a right to intervene between me and my God.

I dunno…I have a simple philosophy that I live by that’s as old as….well…Jesus. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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Forty Watt(15:27:47) :

I’m watching BBC News. The question for the panel: Is Palin the path to damnation or salvation of the Republican Party. So far she’s been called Miss Professionally Perky, a national joke, and a cartoon character. I’m enjoying it.

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Denise MadLibFromMSgaAZca(15:27:50) :

Gloat. Gloating. Gloated.

I just want to say how very much I am enjoying watching Repubs, the hard right types, twisting in the wind.

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Goalie in NM(15:37:55) :

@ Sparky,

Continuing….I was raised in a political AND and religious home. My dad was in political advertising when I was just a toddler, continuting through my youth and then went to Seminary in NYC – ordained an Episcopal Priest when I was 15 years old.

I have always had a strong sense of duty to my country and to my God. One thing that I have grown to believe is that we are all on our own path in this world – we may walk with other souls at times but our footprints are our own and no one can walk that path for you. You and you alone answer for your transgressions and/or your accomplishments. They are personal and intrinsic to only you.

I find it laughable that any “priest” who would deny a believer communion would be the least bit intimidating. Shame on those who would profess to know what God would do or what God wants…..

You raise very soft ground when religion takes the stage. If only we could keep them separate as our forefathers intended…

Did anyone else notice how Governor Perry pretty much manhandled SP when he interrupted the press conference to say there was going to be only one more question? You can see him actually shove in front of her to take the question, and then take her arm and roughhouse her back in front of the mike. Watch him, watch the look on her face. It speaks volumes.

Huffpo has a minute-long clip of the incident. Watch carefully from the beginning. She looks frightened and embarrassed.

Sarah’s belief that God is guiding every move in her life eliminates any accountability for her….she has a crutch, an excuse for blundering….she’s only doing what God tells her…therefore, also, too, LOL, she can’t make any mistakes…

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Sparky(15:47:29) :

Goalie in NM (15:26:19) (15:37:55)
Thoughtful words, Goalie. Enough so that I will return to read them again.
Thank you for the gift.

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Anonymous(15:47:29) :

This is very OT, but I feel the need to express some “guilty” feelings after seeing Aussie Blue Sky’s link with the TIME’s Obama framed portrait. I have been very interested in and vocal about politics since Bill Clinton first won the nomination in his original bid for President. In each subsequent election I have been vocal, I have tried to convince friends and colleagues to look at the Democratic values and candidates, and I have certainly voted…, but that was all I was willing to do. But this time and this general election have been so different for me. I was originally a Hillary supporter (mostly and honestly because I didn’t think the country was ready for a non-white candidate), and I still think Hillary is a phenomenal person/politician, but Barack Obama and his message really struck a chord with me. I truly believe we needed a change and we are the ones we have been waiting for. I have spent endless hours on the internet researching info, looking for evidence to dispute false claims against Obama and support to prove real allegations against Palin and McCain. I obsessively followed this mudflats blog (my lighthouse during many stormy nights at sea – God bless you AKM), and have bombarded my friends and family with my own blogs and bulletins with all the information I found. I have knocked on my neighbor’s doors, put fliers on cars, and Obama’s campaign is the first and only political campaign I have ever given money to. Money I could not really afford, but felt the need to give anyway. I battled heartburn and anxiety for months waiting for the outcome of this election, preparing myself for the big let down and disappointment I was sure would come. On election night, when it seemed “WE” (as a country) won, I still reserved my excitement for the confirmation the next day, remembering my shock the morning after the election in 2000. Now that I am convinced it is a reality, I feel like I have been part of a revolution, a sweeping tide that has moved across the nation. I am usually a very pragmatic, reasonable, logical, and reserved person. I do not wear my political views or ideology on my sleeve out in public. Now, I very much would enjoy placing a portrait of the First Family in my living room. In the words of Rachel Maddow, I guess I need someone to either talk me down, or tell me it is natural and/or normal to want to place a portrait of the Obama family in my home. They are such a young, beautiful, close, healthy, and successful family. An example all families should all be striving for. Have I drank too much of the Obama Kool Aide? I hope not, because after these last 8 years, I really need to hold on to the Hope the Obama election, and his ideal looking family, have brought me.

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Tom(15:47:42) :

I found it interesting that Palin objected to other folks appointing friends etc. to political positions when that’s all she’s done in her administration. Most of her appointments were friends with little or no qualifications.

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seachele99(15:48:31) :

This is very OT, but I feel the need to express some “guilty” feelings after seeing Aussie Blue Sky’s link with the TIME’s Obama framed portrait. I have been very interested in and vocal about politics since Bill Clinton first won the nomination in his original bid for President. In each subsequent election I have been vocal, I have tried to convince friends and colleagues to look at the Democratic values and candidates, and I have certainly voted…, but that was all I was willing to do. But this time and this general election have been so different for me. I was originally a Hillary supporter (mostly and honestly because I didn’t think the country was ready for a non-white candidate), and I still think Hillary is a phenomenal person/politician, but Barack Obama and his message really struck a chord with me. I truly believe we needed a change and we are the ones we have been waiting for. I have spent endless hours on the internet researching info, looking for evidence to dispute false claims against Obama and support to prove real allegations against Palin and McCain. I obsessively followed this mudflats blog (my lighthouse during many stormy nights at sea – God bless you AKM), and have bombarded my friends and family with my own blogs and bulletins with all the information I found. I have knocked on my neighbor’s doors, put fliers on cars, and Obama’s campaign is the first and only political campaign I have ever given money to. Money I could not really afford, but felt the need to give anyway. I battled heartburn and anxiety for months waiting for the outcome of this election, preparing myself for the big let down and disappointment I was sure would come. On election night, when it seemed “WE” (as a country) won, I still reserved my excitement for the confirmation the next day, remembering my shock the morning after the election in 2000. Now that I am convinced it is a reality, I feel like I have been part of a revolution, a sweeping tide that has moved across the nation. I am usually a very pragmatic, reasonable, logical, and reserved person. I do not wear my political views or ideology on my sleeve out in public. Now, I very much would enjoy placing a portrait of the First Family in my living room. In the words of Rachel Maddow, I guess I need someone to either talk me down, or tell me it is natural and/or normal to want to place a portrait of the Obama family in my home. They are such a young, beautiful, close, healthy, and successful family. An example all families should all be striving for. Have I drank too much of the Obama Kool Aide? I hope not, because after these last 8 years, I really need to hold on to the Hope the Obama election, and his ideal looking family, have brought me.

I think all the governors at that press conference were a bit miffed at Miss Congeniality…I’ve never seen a LOSER get so much attention….there was so much intelligence present on that stage and we were subjected to the dumbest of the dumb…she needs to start listening to her own bad press….

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seachele99(15:49:22) :

apologies for the accidental double post…

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Greytdog(15:53:42) :

Just donated to Begich. I really do like the fact he’s leading Stevens. It would be totally great to have a Democrat from Alaska in the US Senate. Any word if Les Gara will ever run for national office?

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InJuneau(15:55:27) :

@seachele99 (15:48:31) :

In other countries people have photos of their leaders in businesses and homes, so I’m not sure it would be a problem to want to have a portrait of the Obamas in your home. Among other things, they ARE an inspiring example of a healthy family, so why wouldn’t we want to model that?

I got this link from another post. When I read the article, I wasn’t surprised that it happened in Greenville. I remember Greenville in not the most flattering way, to put it mildly.

There is no bishop of Charleston currently. Here is the email address of the Archbishop. His name is Wilton Gregory.archbishop@archatl.com

In Australia, the Catholic Church does not meddle in politics, however as a Catholic I am outraged.

In the article is an email link. Please just email the article to Archbishop Gregory and tell him what you think; it will only take a minute.

Before the election, and because I don’t pray for ‘stuff’ so I couldn’t pray for an Obama win, I prayed for the deliverance from oppression for all American people. This is the worst kind of oppression.

I’m going to write Archbishop Gregory. Then I am going to write his boss.

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Forty Watt(15:58:15) :

@ Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA (15:39:52) :

…but I am not cynical.

_______________________________

No, but you are naughty.🙂

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Aussie Blue Sky(15:59:41) :

Irishgirl aka puck mule (15:43:11) :

@Aussie Blue Sky
Did you change your name?
——————————————————-
Yes, sister, along with a few others I rejected the Palin name and chose something ‘blue’.😉

If you’re from Kerry (like my Irish branch, who is from Tralee), you could be Kerry Blue.😀

I haven’t had a chance to read through all the earlier comments, so this may have been voiced already. Apologies if it has been.

Does it surprise you that the AK dept of elections (run by sean “kissing sarah’s ass” parnell) would release the votes from districts favourable to uncle ted first? And then take a looooong time counting the rest? Perhaps to try to get Begich to concede early?

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(16:00:45) :

Anyone know if there are new numbers tonight on the Begish/Stevens race?

Also, last I heard Al Frankin was down by about 200 votes. Is there anything new on the first count. (I do know there will be a mandatory recount later cause the eletion is within .5%) I assume they must still be hand counting provisional and absentee ballots like Alaska?

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Forty Watt(16:00:46) :

Hey, Sec. of State may be Hillary

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Forty Watt(16:02:36) :

Aussie Blue Sky (15:59:41)

Horribly OT, but how to you make a smiley face showing her teeth?

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Sparky(16:03:40) :

seachele99 (15:49:22) No apologies necessary, Seachele. It blew me away. I believe this election was totally different for many. Obama is totally different. For those who remember Bobby Kennedy (I was in grade school when he was shot), Obama has some of that, um, for lack of a better word, specialness. I was very young, and my family wasn’t political, but I felt something. For some reason, Bobby’s loss was cruel because there was this hope in him…we knew there was work to be done, but the PEOPLE were willing to do it. I did extra chores to earn the $1 or so necessary to buy Life magazine that was dedicated just to Bobby Kennedy’s too-short life. I would read it in bed at night when all were asleep. I was really young, but there was something special.

Barack Obama has something special in his gravy, as they say. Can’t put my finger on it, but it’s huge. Michelle is different…special…we see that. The Internet brought us all together in ways we couldn’t dream before. We’re lucky to have Obama and each other through this. Hope.

I guess I’m saying, you’re good…very good.

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A Fan From Chicago(16:03:43) :

OT but worth considering. It’s been reported that P-E Obama is resigning his Senate seat on Sunday. So, interestingly enough, as we wait for the outcomes of Senate races in AK, MN and GA, changes are coming in IL and DE.

With all due respect to our friends in Alaska, Illinois has a corner on the market of politics that is brass-knuckled, incredibly weighted toward kids of politicians and shamelessly obvious.

Both states have Democratic Governors so the balance in the Senate won’t shift on these two. But it’s going to be interesting to see how it works out. Hope Delaware has a more logical solution than we do.

BTW our Governor is likely to get indicted sometime soon so you’re probably not going to want to be his pick and have those pictures.

More food for thought.

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ocliberal(16:05:11) :

Goalie in NM :You raise very soft ground when religion takes the stage. If only we could keep them separate as our forefathers intended…

AMEN!
——-
seachele99: That was a very nice post. I feel the same way. This election was such a catharisis after the misery of the last two elections and especially after the absolute calamity of the Bush/Cheney administration.

I am going to frame my Obama newspaper and hang it on my office wall. I’ve only saved two newspaper in my life. One was when the Angels won the World Series in 2002 and the other was from last Wednesday. They are going to hand side-by-side. Two examples of ‘miracles’ in my own lifetime.

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pamela(16:07:15) :

The News Hour just interviewed two other repub govs – Pawlenty and Sandord. They were careful to say nice things about SP but they threw Ted Stevens under the bus. I guess it’s the repubs in Washington that have gone astray, and according to Pawlenty (I think) Ted was emblematic of how one can become corrupted. Hopefully, Begich can get to Washington to eliminate that problem!

And of course, there’s nothing wrong w/ the repubilcan philosophy, but -since it’s a market-oriented party – they do need to figure out why no one is “buying” said philosphy right now. But, hey, that’s good – glad to see them running on more of the same only “purer.” I predict if that’s their course, “sales” will continue to plummet.

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(16:07:55) :

Forty Watt (16:02:36) :Horribly OT, but how to you make a smiley face showing her teeth?

**************************************

I always assumed smileys were male. I guess that is ’cause I am male. I guess I have no basis to assume smileys are male. Never thought of it before.

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Aussie Blue Sky(16:10:13) :

Forty Watt (16:02:36) :

Aussie Blue Sky (15:59:41)

Horribly OT, but how to you make a smiley face showing her teeth?
————————————————–
That’s a laughing smiley.😀 Substitute a D for the bracket.

8)

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InJuneau(16:10:28) :

I think we need to ask Aussie about that open mouth smiling smiley, since there’s one in his/her post. Hey, Aussie, cough up the details on making that one…

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InJuneau(16:11:00) :

Aw, Aussie, there you go beating me to my posting! Thanks for the directions.

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Trini(16:11:13) :

Hillary as Secy. of State. Great, but I’d rather see her in the Supremes. Scalia needs a smack-down.

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Sparky(16:11:41) :

😀
8)

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Sparky(16:12:15) :

yay…good for me🙂

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Aussie Blue Sky(16:12:54) :

pamela (16:07:15) :

You just reminded me that I started my day LMAO – Bush was saying that the free market isn’t responsible for the worldwide financial disaster …… can he go already? He just gets creepier.

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InJuneau(16:14:21) :

BTW, it doesn’t appear, to me at least, that the Div. of Elections is actually counting any ballots today, so we may all have to sit on pins and needles (figuratively of course!) till next week for all this nonsense to be over…

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Aussie Blue Sky(16:15:02) :

InJuneau (16:10:28) :

I think we need to ask Aussie about that open mouth smiling smiley, since there’s one in his/her post. Hey, Aussie, cough up the details on making that one…
———————————————–
Aussie’s a girl, a woman, and most of the time a lady.😉

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Forty Watt(16:19:24) :

@ Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA (16:07:55) :

I always assumed smileys were male. I guess that is ’cause I am male. I guess I have no basis to assume smileys are male. Never thought of it before.
___________________________________________

I did think about saying his/her teeth, but I figured what the hell! I don’t feel like being PC tonight.😀

Aussie Blue Sky (15:59:41)

Thanks.😀

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austintx(16:22:19) :

Hey Crust – great post on the catholic crap……the Pope himself should call out that tool priest……..when BO was walking the streets in Chicago and helping people……it was literally in the basements of Catholic churches. I am really tired of the whiney,dopey,lame-ass crap out of these ass- wipes !!!

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Greytdog(16:31:51) :

The real tragedy about the Ayers debacle is that our educational system is in dire need of reform – and Bill Ayers is one of the leading educational reformers in this country. And now, Obama can’t reach out and tap him for advice, insight, etc. That really hurts the kids .

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austintx(16:33:29) :

Oh and further more……..The Catholic Church has paid out to date..!!!!!!! 1(ONE)1 BILLION dollars to settle sexual abuse/rape charges………This is a sad fact. I believe that most people who particpate here read enough to know this. Pope– please slap this acolyte……hard!!!

Sorry if this has already been posted but Mark Begich will be on Rachel Maddow’s show which starts in about 20 minutes!

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antiAnti(16:42:13) :

During my last year of Catholic schooling, on being told some absurd “principle” of Catholism by some earnest nun, I’d launch into praise of past “doctrines” like divine right of kings or geo-centric universe. Never told a nun she was wrong, just vehemently agreeded with discarded “doctrines” until the nun was _FORCED_ to tell me that the church had been _WRONG_.

I still find this game enormously entertaining and satisfying. I figure each time I can get an admission of church errors, I’m actually giving the (arrogant, malicious and cruel) church representative a little tiny chance at avoiding hell.

Makes me feel quite rightgeous some times.

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Aussie Blue Sky(16:47:04) :

antiAnti (16:42:13) :

I bet you sounded like a Republican! ROFL!

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Lacy Lady(16:48:29) :

I think Bill Ayers should sue a few people. Not only Palin, but fox news net. They sent out reporters who followed him up the stairs at his home, and pushed a mike in front of his face.
As for Palin —-she is getting a cool reception at the convention in Miami.
I had to laugh at the headlines—-“Palin urges GOP governors to keep Democrats honest.” What a joke!!
I am writing to all the networks and complain about seeing Palin, palin and more palin. I have seen enought of the Ass.
As for the Catholic church–I am Catholic and believe that if every Catholic who voted for Obama, or used birth control pills were thrown out of the church, there wouldn’t be enough people to throw the few bucks in the basket. If our priest told me how to vote, i would walk out of the church.
I believe in separation of church and state—-just as JFK and the rest of the Kennedys. It is my belief that the Republicans have use this forum to get votes—nothing more–nothing less. Someone should talk about McCain and how he treated his wife. I think there is a thing called adultery.
If politics are going to be controlled by religion, we might as well join the taliban.—-I know what is right and what is wrong. I don’t need Government to pass laws to control my beliefs.

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Georgia peach(16:51:28) :

seachele99, I’m right there with you. you could have written that for me. for the first time, I donated. and I, too, feel that I am now part of something big. for the first time, I feel some ownership in the presidency. and I know that we all have to stay involved so that we can continue the change that started….

Thank you to all who validated my elated feelings for our new president and his beautiful family. And to Georgia Peach, you identified my feeling of ownership in this election and I agree with your notion that we need to stay involved and active in instituting the change we need and want. AKM, thank you SOOOO much for providing all of us a place to gather and collaborate in this stressful election and these troubled times. You have done more good than you could possibly know.

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the problem child (a jerk, also)(17:11:27) :

seachele99: I think that what you are saying is that you feel like they are now part of your family. It’s fine to put up pictures of your family.

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(17:11:31) :

Sparky (17:04:00) :

sorry, Lance, I’m not connecting either…

help?!
————-
Sparky, is it a right wing conspiracy messing up our Rachel fix?

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(17:12:54) :

Lacy Lady (16:48:29) :If politics are going to be controlled by religion, we might as well join the taliban.—-
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Imagine if a pro choice President, upon taking office, required all practicing Catholics to either recant their beliefs or leave the country forthwith. Not the kind of world I would want.

Anonymous (15:47:29)
Ah you have nothing to feel guilty about.
I was not a supporter of Hillary Clinton, I am afraid I held Bill against her. I am still mad at him for NAFTA. I can’t speak to what has happened in Canada but I have seen the human carnage here in the US and in Mexico where their economy has been devistated by the likes of, you guessed it, Walmart and the like. Why do we have tens of thousands of illegal aliens flowing across the boarder, because they are starving and desperate. I blame Bill, while I am somewhat less annoyed with him since he said he now thinks NAFTA was a mistake, I will probably never forgive him.
I worked very hard to promote the ideas that I believe and run my manufacturing plant by which are the basis of the Democratic party values. I am in a position where endorsing or campaigning for a specific candidate would violate my personal values. I have to much power over to many people. While I feel I have well thought out personal politics and I, of course, think I am right, I know other people have different experiences and different opinions that they also believe are correct. I satisfied myself by activley encouraging my employees to vote and making it possible for them to register at work.
Wanting to put up a picture of the Obama family is not crazy, my father a Canadian born immigrant proudly displayed a picture of Franklin Deleno Roosevelt in our livingroom until his death in 1984. Roosevelt was his hero. I think Obama has the opportunity to acheive that kind of greatness if he plays his cards right. Here’s to hoping he will.

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B in MA(17:34:26) :

For some reason though, they have MSNBC labeled as Fox and vice versa.

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B in MA(17:36:27) :

Sparky/Lance did you see my post re: Blinko?

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(17:36:33) :

AKM*AKM*AKM*AKM*AKM*AKM*AKM*AKM*

AKM and mudpuppies:

Look what I found, has this been posted:

STATE OF ALASKA
Division of Elections
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
News Release for Immediate Release
November 13, 2008
CONTACT: Gail Fenumiai, Director (907) 465-4611
Shelly Growden, Election Systems Manager (907) 451-2872
Final Counting Schedule Determined
The Division of Elections still has over 40,000 ballots to be counted by the statutory deadline of
November 19th.
The division has received several inquiries asking why it is taking so long to count ballots. “With
over 90,000 ballots that needed to go through the statutorily mandated review process, as well as
conducting a duplicate voter review, the division is quite pleased that we can announce we are
ahead of the statutory deadline for reviewing and counting the absentee and questioned ballots,”
said director, Gail Fenumiai.
The outstanding ballots that remain will be counted as follows:
• Region I, Juneau – will count all remaining questioned ballots on Friday, November 14th
at 1:00pm and all remaining absentee ballots on Tuesday, November 18th at 9:00am.
• Region II, Anchorage – will count all remaining absentee and questioned ballots on
Tuesday, November 18th at 10:00am.
• Region II, Wasilla – will count all remaining questioned ballots at 8:00am and remaining
absentee ballots at 1:00pm on Friday, November 14th.
• Region III, Fairbanks – will count all remaining questioned ballots and possibly some of
the remaining absentee ballots on Friday, November 14th at 11:00am. Any absentee
ballots that do not get counted on November 14th will be counted on Monday, November
17th at 10:00am.
• Region IV, Nome – will count all remaining absentee and questioned ballots on Friday,
November 14th at 8:00am.

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teri(17:37:20) :

Hey, this is an inspirational video.😉

I look forward to celebrating when Mark Begich wins!

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264 Crayons(17:37:33) :

Mollys Mum (15:43:28) :

Did anyone else notice how Governor Perry pretty much manhandled SP when he interrupted the press conference to say there was going to be only one more question?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow he was definitely the head man in charge…and she didn’t like it one bit having to give up one inch of her territory. I”m impressed he cut her off though – thank goodness somebody shut her up!

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(17:38:06) :

Ok, I’m trying what B in MA (17:31:45) : said. And Rachel’s on. Go do that, Sparky.
Except it’s the NBC player (no B). And it’s the channel 2 even though it says its Fox.

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Denise MadLibFromMSgaAZca(17:38:43) :

For all you Muddies who had no audio/visual feed . . . Senator Begich wore a smile while he competently answered Rachel’s insightful questions.

But the best part was when he threw darts in the shape of wolves at a target whose bull’s eye was a mugshot of Sarah.

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(17:39:03) :

B in MA (17:36:27) :

Yes, thanks so much. I’m there.

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NY Dem(17:39:37) :

At last, a politician from Alaska that actually speaks with intelligence and in coherent sentences.

Wonderful interview of Mark Begich on Rachel. He seems extremely intelligent and is very articulate. Mnetioned that he gained another 10 votes on Stevens when a small 69 person district was just counted.

Also said that if he is (hopefully) ahead by 1,500 or more at the end of the count, there will not be an ‘automatic’ recount (Stevens would have to submit for one).

Seemed very confident that he will win.

On a side note, I work as a mailman in my small town, and I have noticed quite a few Alaska travel guides that are coming through the mail since all this started. Seems there are many people here in NY that have fallen in love with Alaska and its’ beautiful scenery, and are beginning to plan trips to our 49th state !

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B in MA(17:40:26) :

Glad to be of assistance!

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annie(17:42:12) :

PDX MB (14:54:15) :

Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble (14:35:41) :

I can’t believe this. I hope they lose their tax exempt status.

I emailed them too………really disappointed in the church for this stance. For what it worth this is what I told them.

I am a 66 yr old catholic mother of five wonderful children. I do not believe in abortion and I do not believe the Catholic Church has the right to tell me I cannot be a practicing Catholic because I voted for Barack Obama. Mr Obama is PRO-CHOICE.
This is the government in America, and not all Americans are Christians, the law is there to protect their choice.

We as Catholics must live our lives within the churches beliefs and we have no right to impose them on anyone else.

I voted for Mr Obama & Mr. Biden after I looked at the family values of both men and what wonderful fathers and families they have. Their was no comparison with the other ticket of Mr McCain & Mrs Pain. I will take HONESTY,INTEGRITY,& INTELLIGENCE in the leader of my country before LYING, SMEARING, & DIVORCE and a mother whose two oldest children are high school dropouts, and that poor beautiful baby, I just want to hold him and love him for 24 hous, it is so sad to see him passed around.

As a church we have no right to dictate our beliefs on anyone, if this is what we are becoming I may start looking elsewhere to worship.

God would have no part of this partisan attitude.

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Cassie Jeep Pike Palin (Wish I were Trout)(17:47:18) :

seachele99
————————————————————————
There is hardly an Irish American who doesn’t have a photo, newspaper and/or JFK coin…either their own or what was left to them by deceased parents. This is true of homes in Ireland, as well.

Seachele99, we have all been changed. Many for the first time and some of us again.

Frame that photograph, display it proudly.

It is history and you helped make it.

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Sparky(17:47:28) :

B in MA (17:36:27) :
Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble (17:38:06) :

Ok, I’m trying what B in MA (17:31:45) : said. And Rachel’s on. Go do that, Sparky. Except it’s the NBC player (no B). And it’s the channel 2 even though it says its Fox.

Hey, thanks B andLance! I did finally get my act together, up comes Rachael, and horrors, there was W’s big fat mug…ick! I was mortified.😦

Missed Mark Begich all together. But now I know how to access again, so thanks. I guess I still had ChannelSurfing.net on favorites (mortified)

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(17:49:50) :

NY Dem (17:39:37) : On a side note, I work as a mailman in my small town, and I have noticed quite a few Alaska travel guides that are coming through the mail since all this started. Seems there are many people here in NY that have fallen in love with Alaska and its’ beautiful scenery, and are beginning to plan trips to our 49th state !

*****************************************
I posted yesterday about getting a Palin letter here in Pittsburgh inviting me to send for a trevel guide. I’ll try to track down the details of my post and republish on this thread.

I think you are right 264crayons and dazzler – he got her off the stage before she ‘opened mouth and inserted foot” yet again.

I think they are tired of her because she IS dragging down the party and making them all look like a laughing stock.

Watched the video of it, and I half expected to see J.P. Morgan banging the GONG and Chuck Barris coming out of the wings🙂

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Sparky(17:50:57) :

To all the Mudpuppies getting all riled up and passionate about issues this evening, I say yahooo…I love passion…it can move mountains. :-0

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Sarah lieslikearug Palinese-ah!(17:52:51) :

Begich is well-spoken.

Quite the difference from that last one, eh?

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Ripley in CT(17:53:48) :

nocalgal (13:54:42) That is totally MY thing. I have had Mooselips Sink Ships as a Yahoo ID for at least 2 years already!!

I’ve been robbed!!!!

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(17:54:29) :

annie (17:42:12) :

God would have no part of this partisan attitude.
———
Great letter, and great line.

I’m constantly amazed by the power us mudpuppies wield.

Me too, Sparky. I’m just glad to be back on track. And I’ll watch her latest tomorrow after work. I just hate getting my news late.

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Ripley in CT(17:54:54) :

PS, I even posted it in some of my comments here in Mudflats… I suspect that may be where your boy came up with it…. Hmmmmmm

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(17:58:41) :

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has two online polls regarding Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State.

Colin Powell is #1 on Sec/Def
Sam Nunn #2

Bill Richardson
Hillary neck and neck on Sec/State

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(17:58:42) :

Here is my post from yesterday

11/12/08 Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh (11:22:05) :

A TRUE STORY

I just opened my mail at work. I am a life long Democrat. Imagine my surprise to get a letter with the seal of Alaska and the return address of “Office of the Governor of Alaska.” Inside is a cheery letter “signed with warm regards by “Sarah” and a card for me to return if I want a FREE guide to Alaska. There is even a picture of Governor Palin included.

The odd think about the chatty letter from “Sarah” is that she talks about “…camping, fishing, clamming, hunting, hiking” Shouldn’t it be spelled “…campin, fishin, clammin, huntin, hikin” ?

Actually, there is a great idea. I should take a week off of work and fly many time zones north and west to go clammin in the mudflats of Alaska. Hmmm, works for me. I am sold. I am flying my wife and kids with me to go clammin in the mudflats over the Christmas holidays.

Also, she signed it “With Warm Regards” Who is she kidding. Alaska is the first place that comes to my mind when I think of freezing my a*s off. Nothing warm about that.

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Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble(18:00:24) :

Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA (17:58:42) :

How on earth did she get your email address? Has she hacked into AKM’s database?
I’ll be lookin’ to see if I get one of these.

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halcrow(18:00:27) :

NY Dem (17:39:37) :

At last, a politician from Alaska that actually speaks with intelligence and in coherent sentences.

Actually, almost all that i’ve seen are articulate and coherent; unfortunately, Palin has recently displaced them in the collective memory.

Once she’s no longer the flavour of the day, or when she’s had to hand the wardrobe back (whichever comes first), she’ll disappear into the miasma of the long, Alaskan winter nights.

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Sparky(18:03:31) :

halcrow (18:00:27) :

with a sickening sucking sound

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Irish in FL(18:05:11) :

May she just LEAVE south Florida…..she’s all over the local news giving speeches and making an a…………… of herself…have learned to turn the ‘mute’ button on as fast as I did/do for W……………..

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Lee(18:07:42) :

Hello, to all.

You are just going to love this. It is a Please shut up Sarah Palin petition.

Anonymous (15:47:29) :
———————-
this way down in the post and a new post will probably come out soon …….great post and I feel the same way……great post

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MonaLisa(inCT)(18:12:24) :

seachele99 (15:48:31) :

Except for the part where you said you’d, “…knocked on my neighbor’s doors, put fliers on cars….” [my neck of Connecticut is so deeply blue, it’s almost (tee-hee) black, so instead I stuffed mailers at my local Obama office and phone-banked to Virginia.]

But except for ONLY that, I could have written your post.

So if you’re ‘not natural’, or ‘not normal’, well… you’re also ‘not alone’!

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Sarah lieslikearug Palinese-ah!(18:12:51) :

Thought I saw the scroll at the bottom of the screen announce that Begich is ahead by 871 votes right now.

The die is cast and the campaign is over, so both men should just relax and await the completion of the count.

Cheers,

Tom

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(18:14:15) :

Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble (18:00:24) :How on earth did she get your email address? Has she hacked into AKM’s database?

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

No Lance, it wasn’t email, it came through the regular mail, properly addressed to me at my Pittsburgh workplace.

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califpat(18:15:24) :

Anonymous:
My sentiments exactly. Even though I have always voted, I have never been inspired or excited by a candidate as I have been during this election. I too, was for Hillary initially, but Barack Obama has something about him that is enrapturing, inspiring , fresh, honest, intellectual, wise, cool, humane and irresistable. I became totally involved in this election, knocking on doors, hosting Barack Calling Parties at my house , making calls for Obama from my home and talking to my friends and anybody that would listen as to why they should vote for Barack. In past elections I was nonchalant and felt that the status Quo would always sway the election the way they wanted it to go and we citizens really did not have any power. But this election felt different and I was on an emotional roller coaster. One day I would feel that Obama had real chance of winning and something would happen the next day to make me feel that he did not have a chance at all because the “they” would steal the election. SWWNBN and McCain almost made me destroy my television as they spewed their lies and filth because I threw all kinds of objects at them when they came on. My television survived. My mute button almost lost its function from me muting McCain/Palin. I was so full of tension and anxiety on election night that I could barely sit still and prepared myself for a long night ahead and some political drama. When the announcement came that Obama had won, it was electrifying but like you, I did not think it was real. All six of my adult daughters called me and one even came over with champagne and we celebrated and cried together for the miracle. So, I know exactly what you were going through Anonymous.

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Eyes Wide Open in Pittsburgh, PA(18:21:15) :

I am a little concerned I may next stumble across an undercover android moose grazing in my Pittsburgh yard while its antler antenni broadcast data back to GOP headquaters.

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Sarah lieslikearug Palinese-ah!(18:22:55) :

I hope I am not the only person who was very glad to see Rachel Maddow interview Mark Begich on her program. Television would be so much better if the majors would simply acknowledge that Sarah Palin’s 15 minutes expired long ago. Guys like Begich – regular guys who are battling to get the bad guys out of the US Senate – deserve to be front and center at this point past election day.

Speaking of getting knuckleheads out of the US Senate… who won the contest for Larry Craig’s seat?

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(18:26:00) :

I watched Rachel (and Keith) on blinko with no problems. The Catholic Church pressured people to vote for McCain before the elections. Some passed out anti-Dem literature; some priests preached it from their pulpits. It doesn’t surprise me that some priests refuse to give communion to people who voted for Obama. Personally, I don’t think churches should be tax-exempt at all, but they DEFINITELY need to get their status taken away when they do crap like this. The Mormons, too, of course.

Mark Begich was good on Rachel. Funny, self-deprecating and intelligent. I am so hoping he wins!

At last, a politician from Alaska that actually speaks with intelligence and in coherent sentences.
———–
Well…actually there are quite a few, including Les Gara and the fellow that was on Rachel Maddow a couple of nights ago….Wilachewski (or something like that). I also think of Walt Monegan in that regard and Mr. French. All quite articulate and capable of putting a sentence together. It’s Sarah that’s the odd duck. What a shame that she is seen as representative of Alaskans.

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LibertyLover(18:37:53) :

Wait a minute… isn’t Lisa M one of the only people to continue to support S. Palin when she came back to AK? Did she do that in an attempt to dissuade S. Palin from running against her in 2010?

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CO Almost Native(18:38:20) :

Good evening, mudpuppies- and do I love all of you! I was forced to sit with guests and watch O’Reilly on Faux News (a favorite here in the Big Red state), until my youngest called from Denver- and I eascaped (bwa ha ha).

OT- Saw Saxby (GA) on C-span urging all the faithful to get out the vote for him in the run-off (Dec). No surprise- but MCain was there to support him. That I do not get, after what Saxby did to McClelland, another vet.

Eyes Wide Open-
Thanks for the update; I am excited to see Begich ahead in votes.

Halcrow-
Eloquent, as usual. Do you think SP is a troll in disguise? I don’t think trolls can speak in complete sentences…

Annie-
I am not Catholic, but I am religious- and I believe one should live one’s religion, not impose it on others. I seem to recall that Jesus accepted everyone, even those who disagreed with Him.

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CO Almost Native(18:39:37) :

oops- I meant to type escaped…

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SMG - MN(18:40:19) :

I’m glad that the subject of Bill Ayers has surfaced again. The egregious labeling of Ayers as a “terrorist” by Palin and her ilk, in my opinion, was unconscionable. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and it was indeed a dark moment in our history. The mission of the WU was to stop the senseless slaughter of lives in a war that was thrust upon us to promote a political agenda (sound familiar?). The draft was a reality, and it was terrifying. They did not plant bombs to kill. I wonder how many of the hate-infected masses who fell in line behind Palin even know the truth. Or would care to, for that matter.

It is so much easier to hate with ignorance than to love with openness, knowledge, and forgiveness.

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CO Almost Native(18:42:56) :

Lee-
The Repugs can’t shut her up, after they righteously complained about the poor treatment SP got from the media, the Democrats, the left, the urbanites, the…(you get the picture). Boo hoo hoo, poor Sarah.

…made me remember that the Chief of Police back in Wasilla once said he was aware that Twinkles was intimidated by him because of his height/size, so he was careful to always sit in her Majesty’s presence.

@SMG–MN
It is so much easier to hate with ignorance than to love with openness, knowledge, and forgiveness.
———-
Very well said, SMG. Sounds like something to add to the sayings on my fridge. BTW, Where in MN? I live just north of Brainerd.

Ok, i gotta complaint.. who in here gave me a cold? I’ve had this since obama’s rally in leesburg in mid october.. There a typhoid Mary in here? OH WAIT…

Wonder if Barbie is coughin and hackin..

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Deep Blue in VA(18:49:04) :

Marty – that’s what you get for going to a rally instead of canvassing/phonebanking like a good supporter!
😉

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(18:49:47) :

Lee, I think the Republicans who are in touch with reality want Palin to shut up, but what can they do about it? They can’t implement a gag order on her, as tempting as that may be.

Saxby is despicable, and the McCain of 2000 thought so, too. Now, all is hunky-dory between the two.

SMG–MN, I completely agree about Bill Ayers and the Weather Underground. After his name came up, I researched the movement, and they did not intend to kill anyone. In fact, it was two members of their own movement who got killed.

As I said before, one of the things I loathed the most about the McCain/Palin ticket (and my beef with Clinton in the promary) was how they dragged anyone through the mud simply for political reasons. These people have lives; they are not just pawns in some political game. It disgusted me.

Does anyone speak Palinese as a Second Language? I just read the adn article about SP at the Governors Conference; she said something about: to speak to our constituents we have to use the media, so that’s what we’re doing? WTF?!
(oops- I hope none of my past students are here)

I know that I know that I know…

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CO Almost Native(18:52:40) :

Marty-
LOL! Great sense of humor-

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Physicsmom(18:53:14) :

Thanks for the link, Lance etc. on the priest. This validates for me, once again, why I left the church all those years ago. I agree that this alone would warrant losing that church’s tax-exempt status. I’ve been somewhat ambivalent on that issue for a while now, but especially after the Catholics and Mormons spent so much money to get Prop 8 passed, I’m beginning to get real hard-a$$ed about all churches losing their tax exemptions. Think of the revenue it would provide to the government, and then churches can politicize their view all they want.

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Deep Blue in VA(18:53:50) :

Marty – I’m sure you know I’m joking, but the one rally I went to in Alexandria, VA was during the primary, and the specific instructions from the campaign were that we should encourage undecideds to go rather than giving tickets to the faithful.

To that end, I did my part (sort of). I went with several die-hard Barack fans, and brought one friend who was leaning toward Hillary. After the rally she was on Barack’s team too!

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(18:58:25) :

I heard clips of Palin on Keith’s show, and one of Keith’s commentators quipped that Palin was like Steve Martin in All of Me where half his body was possessed by Lily Tomlin. Half of Palin is post-election Palin (“It’s time to reach out to this administration”), and half of Palin is pre-election Palin (“We still need to know about Bill Ayers”), which is in direct contrast to her first half. It was pretty funny, but oddly true. I honestly think she has a problem processing information in a coherent way.

tickets ?? i never got tickets.. stood in the back after waiting forever with terrible pain in my crummy feet.. but it was worth going!

and yea.. i knew you were kiddin.. see the list?

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CO Almost Native(18:58:50) :

I think all the Republicans left in the Senate are praying very, very hard for Uncle Ted to lose the election. Otherwise, they are between a rock and a hard place: they don’t want to potentially lose a Republican seat, but they also don’t want to be seen as supporting a felon.

Yikes!

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Aussie Blue Sky(18:59:12) :

Creamery seeks aid

WASILLA — A new creamery, which started up after the demise of the Matanuska Maid dairy, is looking for financial help from the state.

Valley Dairy Inc., the parent company of Palmer area-based Matanuska creamery, is seeking $580,000 in low-interest loans from the state’s agricultural revolving loan fund, according to Karen Olson, the company’s financial officer.

I’m in the Twin Cities, but I’ve been to the Brainerd area so I know how beautiful it is. I’ve been lurking for a long time but just came out of the Mudflats “closet” last night, so now I’m an active rather than passive addict. What an oasis this has been!🙂

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Lee(19:01:05) :

asiangrrl:
CO Almost Native: I think you are both right. How unfortunate for us.🙂

She makes my ears hurt.

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Deep Blue in VA(19:05:49) :

Marty-

I just read all the mudstock DC emails – looks like we have a few interested and I bet we could get more as it gets closer.

Don’t we have a number of greater DC area mudpuppies around here?

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:06:23) :

Lee, that is why I mostly read what she says. It’s marginally less painful that way. Marginally. Then, if I feel up to it, I edit what she’s said. It’s not easy.

@SMG–MN
Welcome! Glad you came out of the Mudflats ‘closet’. It is a wonderful place indeed. I found it the day SP was selected VP, when I was trying to find out who in the heck she was! It’s been an oasis, for sure. The live chats during the debates and election were like life support. It’s a great bunch of folks; I know you’ll love it here. Good to have you in words as well as presence.🙂
(I actually live in Nisswa, about 15 miles north of Brainerd. been there?)

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Goalie in NM(19:09:59) :

Have you seen the teeny tiny little smiley face in the very bottom left corner below this box?

Do ya see it? Just askin’

I just happened on it somehow…good one AKM!

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Goalie in NM(19:10:42) :

I’m sorry…below the comment box folks…sheesh..

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Northern Quilter AK(19:14:24) :

deborah aka upnorth MN

My dad lives in the Crosslake Area. Welcome SMG-MN. I’m mostly a lurker but I jump in every now and again. The water(mud) is great!

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Lee(19:14:35) :

asiangrrl: Yes, it is easier to read what she says. The press must be uncomfortable printing what comes from her mouth as well.

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El from Saskatchewan(19:15:54) :

I AM SO EMBARRASSED. I was at a public function today and I said “you betcha”
I would have liked to crawl in a hole. SO my pledge to myself is to see the press conference coverage tonight and never listen to her again. I think it would help if I went out and socialized a little more!

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:16:51) :

Lee, I just want one interviewer to stop the interview and say, “What in the world are you talking about? Do you even know what you’re saying?” No one is calling her on her bull. I don’t expect the FOX News people to do it, but Matt Lauer? Wolf Blitzer? Come on! Grow a pair!

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Suchanut_AK(19:18:35) :

Asiangrrl – if only they would call her on it!

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the problem child (a jerk, also)(19:18:44) :

Aussie Blue Sky (18:59:12) :

I must go to bed, but:

Creamery seeks aid:
Perhaps they should consider asking the Hindu pantheon for help. I hear they are very pro-cow.

Not so sure that the current AK administration will be eager to put their faith-based dollars behind yet another cow. You know what lands on you if you get behind a cow, doncha? Just sayin’.

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:20:40) :

Night, the problem child!

Suchanut, you know what I would really like? If she were to go on The Daily Show or Keith or Rachel’s show. Now that would be must-see TV.

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Lee(19:25:16) :

asiangrrl:

Lee, I just want one interviewer to stop the interview and say, “What in the world are you talking about? Do you even know what you’re saying?” No one is calling her on her bull. I don’t expect the FOX News people to do it, but Matt Lauer? Wolf Blitzer? Come on! Grow a pair!

This is right on. It is as if they are frightened to do the right thing. They do not want to be seen as the big bad news media.

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Suchanut_AK(19:25:54) :

OMG Asian! That would be awesome – with R or O! Intellect vs. Bullsh*t!

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mudslide pike(19:26:51) :

@—>—->—–

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mudslide pike(19:29:08) :

>;)

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Aussie Blue Sky(19:29:48) :

Crowd of 1 million could attend Obama inauguration

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration is expected to draw 1 million-plus to the capital, and already some lawmakers have stopped taking ticket requests and hotels have booked up.

Some people are bartering on Craigslist for places to stay for the Jan. 20 ceremony when the Illinois senator takes the oath of office. They are offering cash or even help with dishes for residents willing to open up their homes.

I just saw Mark Begich on with Rachel – he is such a nice man! He is a lot like Barack: thoughtful, intelligent, great character, loads ‘o integrity.

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:30:19) :

Lee, I think it’s the crap about ‘fair and balanced’ reporting. You know, the part about the journalist ‘not taking sides’? Well, in this case, I agree with Campbell Brown. If someone says it’s raining outside and you can see it’s sunny, then you have to call that person on her stuff.

Suchanut, I believe Rachel would be more than happy to have Palin on her show (after all, she did let that sourpuss, David Frum, grouch his way through an interview), but no way in hell Palin would accept. Rachel would rip her heart out, smiling gently the whole time.

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Catherine Howard(19:31:18) :

The governors, meeting in Miami, should shut Sarah down. Why do they pander to her? I’m sure she’s full of self importance and arrogance, but for crying out loud, can’t they see right through her? Or is Kris Perry down there acting like the human shield? Sarah is creating an atmosphere of distrust, dislike and detraction from the goals at hand. When is she going to shut up and get back to work? When is she going to finally pay for her unethical behaviors? Paul Jenkins wrote an opinion piece on her during her 2006 run for Governor addressing her inexperience and unethical behaviors while Mayor of Wasilla. After reading that I thought: “Oh, for crying out loud, what will it TAKE to get rid of her once and for all?”
With 35,000 votes to be counted, Ethan and Mark still have a fighting chance to turn this around.

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Suchanut_AK(19:31:36) :

Yes she would Asiangrrl….it would be so fun to watch. Is David Frum always that way or was he having a bad day?

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Political Amazon(19:32:49) :

Just to note that Maddow had no coverage of Palin in the majority of her program I watched.

I did have to start the pressure-cooker stew, but it doesn’t take long.

I was so thrilled not to hear about Palin and her asinine comments.

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Glenn2008(19:33:20) :

Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble (14:35:41) :

These clever clergical measures should not stop there!

A brief action plan in the “Leper” fashion:

1. Catholics must not listen to the Pope – since abortion is legal in Italy…
2. Americans must not talk to Italians (or indeed to most Europeans).
3. Anyone with Italian ancestry should be immediately sent back (Guantanamo being optional)
4.Pizza should be forbidden

Not only has America elected its first African-American President, it’s looking more and more like we’ve elected our first Geek-in-Chief. He’s read Harry Potter, he’s addicted to his BlackBerry, and his Mac laptop has a Pac Man sticker on it. Do we need any more evidence he’s one of the nerd generation?

Most recently, the President Elect has acknowledged that he collected both Conan the Barbarian and Spider-Man comic books growing up (although he identifies with Batman as well as Spidey).
But let’s look closely at Spider-Man for a minute.

Catherine, I don’t know why the AP has called it for Don Young over Ethan. There are still so many votes left and he’s only down 15,085!

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mudslide pike(19:34:52) :

I have seen a lot of pictures of JFK in the living rooms of friends. I ask one time why there was a picture of JFK and was told that he change the direction of the Country and that he earned everyone’s respect. He was treated as a family member. I haven;t drank the kool aid, but I see Obama in the same light. Will be a refreshing picture to look at in all those Government Buildings as they replace all those Bush pictures.

Because they want to win. They have proven that they will sink to Lee-Atwater and Karl-Rove levels to win, with party leadership full well knowing that Atwater and Rove were flat-out lying about their oponent.

Do you think the filth in the Republican Party would blanch at Dominionist, Secessionist, sociopathological liar Sarah Palin’s bullshit?

We are talking about the Dregs of Hell in the Republican Party’s leadership. They care NOTHING about reclaiming their party’s integrity.

They want to win. Whatever it takes, they want to win.

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Forty Watt(19:37:13) :

@ MonaLisa(inCT) (18:43:29) :

…made me remember that the Chief of Police back in Wasilla once said he was aware that Twinkles was intimidated by him because of his height/size, so he was careful to always sit in her Majesty’s presence.
_____________________________________________________

I hadn’t heard this. I find it fascinating because Sarah’s reaction to being literally pushed around by Gov. Perry was interestingly acquiescent. So all that overweening confidence functions in some relationship with physical fear.

Then there is “I’m available guys”, wink, wink. It reminds of friend who was raped and her reaction was to start dressing like a tart. I’m not suggesting Sarah was raped. I’m groping (no pun intended) for something about intimidation and sexualized behavior.

I’m sure there are mudpuppies who are knowledgable about this phenomenon….?

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:37:42) :

Suchanut, I haven’t ever seen Frum before; I had only read pieces by him. He looks like he would be that way all the time, though, just my opinion.

Catherine H., I think it might be a little difficult to shut down the VP candidate. It’s a classic case of no one wanting to say the empress has no clothes (now that the RNC took ’em back). Really, one of the more moderate governors (and Pawlenty, my guv, is not one) needs to shut her up.

Someone mentioned this up the way a bit so I thought I would drag out my soap box. We, the people have, in my opinion, against all odds, finally been reempowered. That we felt powerless for so long is, I am afraid our own fault, we believed the liars when they told us we had no power to change things, now we know better.
All big change comes in little steps a million little steps will move mountains. Obama go much bad press for sugesting we keep our tires inflated properly but that will improve gas milage about 3.5% that is only slightly less than the percentage of our oil that comes from the middle east and it’s really easy to do. It was and is a great example of how doing a little thing multiplied by many people adds up. There are millions upon millions of little and not so little things we can do as individuals to turn things around.
I will give you an example from my own life. I have a leaf vaccum that sucks in leaves and chops them up, unfortuatly I also have a job one that I am fairly sure pays me a salary so they can avoid the minimum wage laws given the number of hours I put in. I would like leaves for my Organic garden but have no time. One of my neighbors, you may know his type, the kind that the people you bought your house from did not say a word about for fear of loosing the sale type, lost his job. He has the brain capacity of a peice of french toast, and is a rabid “Obama will destroy the country” guy. He stopped by today, he was on his way to the food bank, things are bad in his life. I had a sudden idea, he could use my leaf vaccum, use it to go out and rake up leaves for people, make some money bring back the leaves and put them in my garden for the rent on the leaf blower. He buys the gas. I noticed when I got home this evening I have four big piles of leaves in my garden so it appears he is doing a land office business. This cost me nothing took me no time and if I manage to avoid him for the most part will not tax my vow to avoid violence. I gain something he gains something and it ripples out like the proverbial pebble in the pond
Look for those small things whatever they may be even if it involves someone you think needs to have a sense pounded into their head with a louisville slugger. I am now dragging my soap box back to the closet for the night. Thank for your patience.

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Aussie Blue Sky(19:42:00) :

Forty Watt (19:37:13) :
I find it fascinating because Sarah’s reaction to being literally pushed around by Gov. Perry was interestingly acquiescent. So all that overweening confidence functions in some relationship with physical fear.
———————————————————
Did no one but me see her appealing to him for help?

At the conference he said he was proud to call her a friend. I wonder when they became friends. He is an old man, in his late fifties. If he wanted to run for president it would have to be 2012 or nothing …… might he want Sidekick Sarah? bleuuch!

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Lana, KY(19:42:57) :

SMG – MN (18:40:19) :

I agree wholeheartedly with your comment.
I was a member of SDS during the Vietnam era and marched and was active in some protests (non-violent thank goodness). At that time I lived in New Haven, Connecticut which was a hot bed of student protests. ( lil’ Georgie Bush was there at the same time, doing the secret skull & bones thing. Oh yeah, and being a cheerleader.)
People like Palin have no concept what a horrible experience the draft and the Vietnam experience was. I lost several dear friends that were members of a Kentucky National Guard unit that was just about wiped out over there.
When Bush came to power and started the Iraq war ~ I though I was having flashbacks. It was starting all over again.
Now just maybe we have a chance to end this horrid mess and get our country back on the right track with a leader we can trust and admire.

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Aussie Blue Sky(19:45:51) :

Debbie aka Commando Coalfire Mudpuppie (19:40:01) :

Thank you for the airing of you soapbox. Maybe one day your neighbour will understand the politics of what you did.

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asiangrrl"Yes we DID"MN(19:47:41) :

Forty Watt, unfortunately, it’s a common phenomenon. Women who are sexually abused often feel as if they deserved it somehow, so they might as well put it out there. Conversely, they may feel they are in control if they dress provocatively and do the seducing. It’s very sad.

Debbie aka Commando, you are a much nicer person than I. I actively avoid people I want to bop on the head.

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pvazwindy(19:48:08) :

new thread

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Forty Watt(19:50:44) :

@ Aussie Blue Sky (19:42:00) :

Did no one but me see her appealing to him for help?

____________________________________

Actually, I didn’t, but I only saw it once and my lingering feeling was that she was–I want to say–“little girlish,” but that’s a bit strong. It was a power relinquishing moment. I’ve seen her nervous before but I’ve never noticed her cede personal control in quite that way.

Pundits are asking if SP is “the voice of the Republican Party”
As much as all of us hate listening to her voice – and some time ago quit trying to decipher her statements —

YES – Let HER be the Voice of the Republican Party — Oh yes !!!
Am doing to do the Drill Baby Drill chant – cuz everytime she talks – she is sending the Repub. Party further down the hole !!!

%%% Drill Baby Drill %%%

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Glenn2008(20:09:28) :

ALSO!!!

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Shikago aka Chief Shikago(20:24:47) :

CO Almost Native (18:51:04) :

Does anyone speak Palinese as a Second Language?
———-
OH, OH me me !

CO Almost Native; Having had such an aweful lot of words, the same words that have and has been exposed, through the media, and on behalf of this Governor, and as we’re concerned about this understanding, um, the understanding, the, definition of words said, before they’re said, it is my wish, a wish of mine, to be in some small way, available out there, to those who may ask, at any time, like do, do they need, help with the, words, if its yea or nay, they should feel fine, about, asking, me, then. Yes.

Address the policy issues that reek–like Board of Game appointments that favor aerial killing wolves and destroying the pups in their dens, political patronage appointments, pork to special interests, lack of adequate support for Alaska Marine Highway, no effort at universal health coverage in Alaska, disrespect for women’s rights, opposition to clean water initiative, manipulation of wording of ballot initiatives, robo calls for Parnell, walking the fence with regard oto Stevens, etc.–and ignore all the other stuff (except for that which is unethical or illegal).

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katiebegood(20:30:36) :

He was also on Rachel Maddow tonight. He’s adorable. Except that he looks kind of tired. This must be really hard on him.

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katiebegood(20:33:59) :

Does anyone speak Palinese as a Second Language?

Listening to SP talk takes me back to the time in college where I worked in a mental hospital. There was a woman there who spoke incessantly and it really sounded like she was talking to you. She was putting words together, but they were total gibberish. It’s a Mental Health term called “Talking in Word Salad”. I believe I heard or saw someone post about speaking in “Sarah Salad” and I knew exactly what they were talking about. Listening to her makes my head hurt. Reading what she said makes me want to get out my red correcting pencil.

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katiebegood(20:37:15) :

I read something tonight about “The McCain/Palin campaign was a car wreck and Sarah Palin is the hub cap still rolling down the road.” I thought that was hysterical and very appropriate.

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MonaLisa(inCT)(21:33:02) :

@Forty Watt

“Actually, I didn’t, but I only saw it once and my lingering feeling was that she was–I want to say–”little girlish,” but that’s a bit strong. It was a power relinquishing moment.”

In that clip, Palin seemed pretty intimidated by Perry.

Look how she holds herself when Perry is momentarily ‘in her space’, listen to how deep her tone has dropped as she begins to answer the reporter’s question, like her throat has tightened up… it’s only once she’s back on script, spouting her talking points, that her tone returns to normal.

And afterwards, when he takes back the mike, it seemed to me she was willing herself to ‘stand her ground’, even though he just sliced in between her and the podium….. (yeah, I enjoyed it. /snark ;))

Nope, Sarah’s just not ready to run with the really big dogs. She should stick with huskies..

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Kath(22:58:30) :

Hi there! Been mostly a lurker here. LOVE your site. Sent Begich
“a little love” just for the pleasure he’s giving some of us DEMs in the Lower48. As a retiree living on a fixed income, I have to be frugal. But still, it’s an important campaign, so you convinced me. His campaign didn’t waste any time responding with a Thank You email.

Thanks for the link. Keep Mudflats coming, will ya? Also.

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Sarah of Arizona(09:13:23) :

Besides the fact that Begich is a democrat, I want him to win to keep Sarah Palin right were she is. All of her activities while Governor should be thoroughly investigated. For starters getting paid for staying in her home, the travel expenses for her family and how she got her house built. She is a real piece of work and we don’t need her in the senate. It’s bad enough that we have to hear her constant self-serving chatter on the news every day. She never says anything informative. I don’t know how she has gotten this far.